The Inner Life

Father Sam Martin joined Patrick for a conversation about Christian friendship. Topics included: what friendship with the Lord is (2:55), the importance of friendship (19:59), loneliness (24:43), male friendships (28:55), caller: how do I interact with an old friend who isn't practicing the faith (32:46), caller: how do I resolve a dispute with a friend (39:19), the risk of friendship (43:30), cultivating good friendships (47:41). 

Father Rob Kroll, SJ discussing the Examen Prayer with Patrick Conley. Topics included: what the examen prayer is (2:58), steps of the examen (6:01), caller: the examen is helpful to me (16:22), family examen (20:34), dealing with dryness (23:15), fruits of the examen prayer (26:20), caller: why the examen (33:46), caller: My wife and I do a nightly examen (38:13), and examen and discernment (42:52).

From Fr. Kroll's Guide to the Examen  

5 STEPS OF THE EXAMEN

This outline is based on St. Ignatius’ presentation in the Spiritual Exercises (n. 43), and is adapted from The Examen Prayer by Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV.

Transition I become aware of God gazing upon me with love as I begin my Examen. I recall that God has created and ordained all things.

Step One: Gratitude I note the gifts that God has given to me this day, thanking God for them.

Step Two: Petition I ask God for insight so that this Examen is a work of grace, not mere navel-gazing or ruminating over my day. I ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light so that I review the day with His eyes and guided by grace.

Step Three: Review With God, I prayerfully review the day hour by hour with its many activities and encounters. Did I experience something surprising or unusual today: a call or email from a friend I hadn’t heard from in years…a painful memory I had considered forgotten…something beautiful in nature…a news story that moved or disturbed me…As I walk through my day, I look for the stirrings of my heart (feelings) and mind (thoughts). Which have come from God? Normally the Holy Spirit acts to give us peace, joy, strength, encouragement. Which stirrings have clearly not been of God but represent suggestions from the enemy? I examine my choices in response to both sets of stirrings. How did God delight in me today? How was God proud of me?

Step Four: Forgiveness I own honestly any ways that I have turned away somehow from God today, whether by failing to love when an opportunity came long or by actively doing wrong in thought, word, or deed. I ask for healing and forgiveness from the God who removes my heart’s burdens. If necessary, I resolve to bring myself to Confession.

Step Five: Renewal The Examen ends by looking ahead briefly to the coming day with hope and confidence, entrusting it to God’s grace. With God, I concretely plan how to live the next day in accord with His loving desire for my life.

The Examen helps us grow in self-knowledge as well as in discerning God’s presence, action and will in daily life. Through it, we more easily find God in all things and love all things in Christ.

Rebecca called into The Inner Life to discuss her Baptism 30 years ago! 

Father Bobby Blood joined Patrick for a conversation about Baptism. Topics included: what Baptism is (3:50), why is Baptism done only once (6:55), caller: I was Baptized 30 years ago (11:24), caller: Can a mother baptize her child (14:54), caller: are my grandkids' baptisms valid (18:04), priest, prophet & king (20:11), caller: I was baptized at age 10 (26:43), caller: I prayed my husband into the Church (30:19), caller: do you need Baptismal certificates for Baptism (32:44), caller: God chooses us in Baptism (34:40), universal call to holiness (40:19), caller: My future son-in-law isn't Baptized (42:21), and caller: I was an Episcopalian growing up (45:51). 

Father Dave Heney joined Patrick for a conversation about Divine Mercy! Topics include: history of Divine Mercy (4:58), what mercy is (9:29), caller: what's best way to bring about conversion (11:54), Divine Mercy and Easter Sunday (17:41), caller: Divine Mercy caught on in our family (20:18), caller: Divine Mercy helped my marriage (24:05), caller: I hope my husband comes to the Divine Mercy devotion (27:48), caller: My daughter became pregnant after praying the Chaplet (31:59), Divine Mercy indulgences (35:12), responding to Divine Mercy (37:51), works of mercy (40:39), caller: I prayed the Diviner Mercy Chaplet when my son was dying (46:53). 

Fr. Sam Kachuba joins Patrick for a conversation about how we can deal with doubt. Topics included: what dout is (3:10), faith as a gift (9:39), the 'I Believe, Lord' (12:01), how doubt gets sown (16:10), doubting Thomas (19:28), caller: I'm worried about my assurance of salvation (24:29), caller: I doubt when I overthink (31:44), caller: I'm a scientist and I understand how to test and ask questions (36:34), caller: I struggle with Church teaching (40:56). 

Father James Kubicki, SJ joined Patrick for a conversation about supernatural healings. Topics include: what miracles are (4:00), miracle in Acts (8:55), why does Jesus perform miracles (10:35), are the sacraments miracles (14:14), St. Claude's miracle (20:35), caller: I was healed from brain trauma (25:41), caller: my daughter's lung was healed (29:58), what if a miracle doesn't happen (32:43), caller: we're praying for a girl dying of cancer (36:41), caller: I was healed (41:10), caller: my fiancé is in hospice (45:32). 

Caller Chris from Arizona shared how he evangelizes while driving! 

Clip taken from IL 4/11/23 with Father Brian O'Brien. 

Father Brian O'Brien joined Patrick for a conversation about sharing the Good News. Topics included what evangelization is (3:49), today's Gospel (6:35), Encounter, Grow and Go (8:46), caller: what is evangelization in contemporary times (13:24), testimony vs. kerygma (19:21), caller: I found God during my addiction (23:09), challenges to evangelization (27:46), dealing with fear (31:38), caller: I love the quote from St. John Bosco (37:50), caller: God uses me while I drive for Uber (46:08). 

Father Sebastian Walshe, O. Praem joined Patrick Conley for a conversation about living the joy of the Resurrection. Topics included: Getting to know Fr. Sebastian (1:51), why Easter is so important (7:13), don't the Resurrection for granted (9:46), how the Resurrection impacts me (14:14), living Resurrection during difficult times (20:27), example of the saints (26:08), celebrating Easter (33:18), caller: How I explain Easter to grandkids (42:33), how families can celebrate the Easter (44:43).